Police Department - 911

Disclaimer: This site is not to be used to report an emergency. For police, fire, and ambulance emergencies, call 9-1-1.

When to Call 911 

911 is for emergencies only...fire, medical, or police emergencies..., and when an immediate response is required!

If you are unsure how serious an incident is, call 911. Assistance will be dispatched to the most critical calls first.

• When there is an emergency, lives are in danger, and immediate action is required, such as a burning building or vehicle, serious injury or medical condition (i.e.; a heart attack), or an in-progress crime situation such as a shooting, stabbing, armed robbery, etc.

• When there is a good chance of arresting a crime suspect, or of preventing the development of a serious crime situation by reporting suspicious persons, vehicles or circumstances, threats of violence or injury, disturbances or actions which, if not controlled quickly, could lead to an emergency.

When You Call 911:

1. Your call will be answered as soon as possible — do not hang up.
2. Briefly state the nature of the call. Example: "this is an emergency; I want to report a ... (fire, heart attack, shooting, accident, robbery etc.)"
3. Let the 911 operator control the conversation. The operator will determine how to best help you from the information you give. Be ready to tell the operator: The address where the emergency is occurring. Be sure to include the street name, building number, and any directional information (i.e.; north, west, south etc.) The name of the nearest cross street is helpful. Your name, address, and the phone number from which you are calling. If you wish to remain anonymous or keep information confidential, tell the operator. However, you should give a phone number where you can be contacted later.
4. Do Not Hang Up Until Directed. Stay on the telephone until the operator tells you to hang up.
5. If there is a long delay in response, the operator will attempt to call you back.
6. Call and cancel your request if you no longer need help.

If in doubt, call 911 - Every Second Counts!

Help Us Help You With A Description

To capture a criminal in these highly mobile times, it is of utmost importance for law enforcement to promptly obtain an accurate description. Following are some of the most important identifiers law enforcement needs to apprehend criminal suspects. Keep this information in mind so that you can give the sheriff/police an accurate description of any criminal or criminal incident you may observe.

Location information is critical:

• Observe where you are and the exact location of the crime. Try to remember if you have ever seen the suspect in the area before.
• Note the time as precisely as possible.
• Observe if the suspect is carrying a weapon and, if so, what type-revolver, handgun, shotgun, knife, etc.
• If the suspect leaves the scene, note the direction of flight.
• If the suspect is in a vehicle, note as much of the following information as possible: vehicle type (auto, truck, van, etc.); color; make and model; condition (dirty, damaged, etc.); and license plate numbers.
  Note also if the vehicle has no license plates or a "license applied for" sticker in the rear windshield.
• Watch for decoys or accomplices.

• Sex
• Race or national origin
• Age (estimated)
• Height-use comparisons with your own height, a door, or some other standard measure
• Weight (estimated)
• Build-fat, husky, slim, muscular, etc.

• Hair-note the color, texture, hairline, style; also possible dyes or wigs
• Forehead-note forehead height, and whether the skin is smooth, creased or wrinkled
• Eyes-note the color, shape (round, slanted), whether clear or bloodshot, and the heaviness of eyelashes and eyebrows
• Nose-overall shape (long, wide, flat, etc.) and nostrils (wide, narrow, flared) are important
• Cheeks-is the flesh sunken, filled out, dried or oily? Are there wrinkles around nose or mouth? Are cheek bones high or low, wide or narrow?
• Ears-note size and prominence (protruding or flat against head)
• Mouth-are lips thin, medium, full? Do corners turn up, turn down, or level?
• Chin-what is the shape (round, oval, pointed, square)? Double chin, dimpled, cleft?
• Neck-note protruding Adam's apple or hanging jowls
• Complexion-note pores, pockmarks, acne, razor rash, bumps
• Facial hair-clean shaven? Unshaven? Beard, mustache, goatee, sideburns?
• Tattoos-shape and style; on what part of the body

• Hat-note color, style, ornaments, how it is worn (bill forward, backward, to one side)
• Coat-note color and style (suit coat, jacket, topcoat, overcoat)
• Shirt/Blouse/Dress-note color, design, sleeves, collar
• Trousers/Slacks/Skirt-note color, style, cuffs
• Socks-note color, pattern, length
• Shoes-note color, style, brand name for sneakers (if possible), condition
• Accessories-sweater, scarf, gloves, necktie
• Jewelry-rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces
• General appearance-neat or sloppy? Clean or dirty?
• Oddities-look for clothing too large or too small; odd colors; patchwork

You will never be able to remember all of these details about any one suspect you may see. But remembering as many as possible can be particularly helpful to law enforcement and to your community.